Man 'lost in his own mind' continues to wait for psychiatric report
A man charged with making threats to kill or cause serious harm at Sara Technology on Broad Street in Waterford City in December has been left continually waiting for a psychiatric report as he remains in custody.
In the courtroom, the case was viewed as emblematic of issues across the system.
Judge Kevin Staunton said the situation was highly "unsatisfactory".
“It is the system and it is not serving (the defendant) well,” said Judge Staunton.
There was an application for adjournment in the matter. The defendant will be remanded in custody until March 19.
He has been in custody since December.
Solicitor Ken Cunningham represented the defendant and requested that his client receive "continuing psychiatric assessment and treatment as appropriate".
Sergeant John Phelan previously told the court that a file was sent to the DPP on February 12, and the state is awaiting directions.
The court-ordered psychiatric report still remains unavailable.
His sister previously told the court that her brother was “completely lost in his mind”.
Both a sibling and brother-in-law of the defendant were present in court again last week.
Meanwhile, at the same court sitting another in camera case referred to a similar issue, wherein a defendant was also awaiting psychiatric evaluation.
The charges in that matter included a count of sexual assault on January 15 last, over which the defendant was remanded in custody, and an alleged breach of a protection order from December 1, 2025.
Solicitor Ken Cunningham said: "The perennial problem of an outstanding psychiatric report applies in this case."
That matter was also adjourned to March 19.
